Reasoning Theorems of Success

A cookie gift bouquet makes a great surprise treat for anyone who likes cookies. It can be as simple or intricate as you’d like, depending on your abilities and time. You can even create personalized cookies to make your gift more memorable. A cookie gift bouquet makes a great project with the kids for a special occasion (Father’s Day, Birthday, Grandparents gift, etc.).

The first thing you’ll need for your bouquet is a mug. It is best to use a standard ceramic mug with a solid base. You can either purchase a new mug for your occasion or use your gift recipient’s favorite coffee mug for a special treat. Buy a small piece of floral foam, available at most craft stores, and cut the foam in the shape of cylinder to fit in the mug. It should be snug, but you shouldn’t have to force the foam into the mug. Cut the foam to be about an inch shorter than the height of the mug. Place some color-coordinated shred in the mug and stuff it around the cracks of the foam so that it remains in place.

The next step is to bake some cookies for your bouquet. If you are pressed for time or not a great baker, buy some fresh cookies at a local bakery in your recipient’s favorite flavors. Depending on the size of the cookies, 3 to 6 will likely be plenty. Wrap each cookie in colored plastic wrap to match your gift theme. Attach wooden bamboo skewers to the back of each cookie using clear tape.

If you have time, and are a little more daring, you can try to make a decorated cookie gift bouquet. For this bouquet, you will use sugar cookie dough. However, you will need to attach the bamboo skewers to the cookie dough before baking the cookies. The cookies should be at least twice as thick as the diameter of the skewer. Once you have made your cookie shapes, carefully insert the skewer from the bottom of your design so the skewer is about one-third of the way into the cookie. Because these cookies need to be thicker, you may have to adjust your cooking time and temperature from what you normally use. Once the cookies are cooled, it is time for cookie decorating. If the kids are helping, this is a great project for them. Use decorative icing to write personal messages on the cookies, or coat with icing and then press candies, sprinkles, etc. into the iced cookies. Bake a few extra cookies and let the kids pick out their favorites when you’re done decorating them. It is best not to wrap the decorated cookies in plastic because the icing may be ruined. If you are not assembling your bouquet right away, put the cookies in an airtight container to keep fresh until you are ready.

To finish your bouquet, all you need to do is carefully push the wooden skewers into the floral foam. You may need to trim the skewers to make them the right height. Make each cookie a different height for the best presentation. Attach a small bow to the mug and you’re all done. Whatever the occasion, your recipient will love to receive your home made cookie gift bouquet!

Bill Smith is the owner of Gourmet-Cookie-Bouquets. Visit us online the next time you want to send a unique and memorable cookie gift. http://www.gourmet-cookie-bouquets.com has hundreds of cookie baskets, bouquets, tins and more for any occasion or holiday.

Jeff Maziarek has written an incredibly simple, yet all-encompassing, book about spirituality. “Spirituality Simplified” (ISBN 0974484105) is easy to read and extremely well organized. It touches upon a number of major components of spirituality, and not only addresses them in the book, but recommends other sources for further reading about each of these topics. Each chapter ends with a summary which is very helpful in pulling together all of the basic information in one chapter before moving onto the next.

“Spirituality Simplified” is simply written, yet contains a wealth of information that is usually impossible to find in a book so easy to read. Maziarek interweaves his personal thoughts and experiences with quotes from a variety of sources, as well as friendly narrative that is never once condescending or intimidating.

I personally found it enlightening, and never once felt “preached to”.

Maziarek has found a way to tackle what could be a sensitive topic with grace and respect, and has written a book that is appropriate for everyone. This book is a wonderful resource for anyone who is interested in exploring spirituality, and I would highly recommend it, whether you are a novice to the idea of spirituality, or have been exploring spirituality for some time.

Danielle Feleciano is a reviewer for Reader Views, a book review service http://www.readerviews.com

People used to question the nutritional effects of barbecuing because they were concerned about the fat content of traditional barbecue fare like hot dogs and hamburgers. That concern is valid, but it’s easily avoided by substituting skinless chicken and fish.

Unfortunately, researchers say there is still another concern about the health impact of barbecuing any animal meats; when they are cooked in the intense heat of the barbecue, substances are formed that have been clearly shown to be carcinogens (substances that can start the development of cancer). And these substances develop regardless of whether low-fat or high-fat, red meat or white meat is on the grill.

In a landmark report on diet and cancer risk, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) notes that as meat - red or white - is cooked, natural substances that it contains react under intense heat to form compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that have been linked with increased cancer risk in some animal studies. The longer the cooking time and higher the temperature, the more these carcinogenic substances formed.

Studies in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute have shown that people who frequently eat heavily browned or very well done meat are three to five times more likely to develop breast, colon and stomach cancer than those who eat it less often. Studies of rodents demonstrated that these HCAs are distributed to mammary (breast) tissue and cause changes in a cell’s genetic material. However, we don’t have proof that this process occurs in people.

Does this mean that if you care about your health you must banish the grill? Not necessarily. Researchers note that how people barbecue affects the risks. For example, marinating meat or poultry even briefly before cooking reduces the amount of HCAs formed by about 96 percent. Partially pre-cooking meat for two minutes in the microwave just before grilling prevents 90 percent of the HCAs normally formed.

Avoid the black char that often forms during grilling, since it is particularly concentrated in cancer-causing substances. Other carcinogens of concern come from the smoke. You can limit the meat’s contact with smoke and decrease this risk if you raise the grill a little higher from the heat and choose leaner meats and trim all visible fat so it can’t drip and cause smoking. Placing food in a foil packet also prevents smoking.

The rest of your meal can reduce the risks of grilling as well. Antioxidant vitamins and phytochemicals in fruits, vegetables and soy foods seem to block some of the damage HCAs do to cells. Studies from Oregon State University demonstrate that substances in tea increase the body’s ability to detoxify and excrete HCA before they do their damage.

Look at the overall balance of your meal. AICR recommends that at any meal, animal protein like meat, poultry and seafood should occupy no more than a third of your plate. And that’s especially true when it’s grilled. By limiting your meat portion, you limit your exposure to HCAs and other carcinogens. And by enjoying a healthy portion of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, you get loads of cancer-fighting, health-promoting nutrients and phytochemicals. If you want to grill some of these veggies, that’s no problem, since the HCA reaction occurs only in foods with animal protein.

Christopher Guerriero, is the founder of the National Metabolic & Longevity Research Center and a best-selling author, speaker, and coach to millions. He is creator of the award-winning ‘Maximize Your Metabolism’ system. To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up for FREE how-to articles and FREE teleseminars, visit: Maximize Your Metabolism